A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

Thirdly, The imaginative power of man is greatly polluted, In the restlessness of it, in the perpetual constant workings thereof; insomuch that thereby the sinfulness of it is continual, as the eye is always twinkling: Is there a moment, wherein thy fancy is not busied about some object or other? And whereas other parts of the soul are subject to sin, while we are awake only; The will, the mind, they only sin at that time, this fancy is many times very sinful in the night time; how many polluted and wicked dreams do men fall into at such a time, at which they tremble and abhor themselves when awakened? Thus though all sleep, yet sin doth not, but liveth and acteth in the imagination: ⟨p. 356⟩But of the sinfulness of dreams by the corrupt imagination, more afterwards: Only for the present let us humble our selves under the perpetual and incessant motion of our sinful fancy, there being no hour or moment wherein we are free from the corrupt stirrings thereof: If there could be a breathing time or a respite from sin, this would at least lessen the damnable guilt thereof, but to be daily minting and fashioning corrupt imaginations without any intermission; how heavily should it press us down, and make us to judge our selves worse then beasts, yea equal to the apostate Angels in perpetuity of sinning? For whereas it is said, that in this particular mans wickedness is not so great as the Devils, because the Devils sin continually, they neither slumber or sleep, as God who keepeth Israel doth not; so neither they who oppose Israel; The Devil doth vent his enmity, and never hath any stop therein by any natural impediment. Now whereas in man by reason of sleep, there is to be a natural intermission and interruption of evil, the imagination being corrupted, doth thereby keep the fire of sin, like that of hell from going out; Cry out then unto God, because of this daily oppression that is upon thy soul; yea how happy would it be if thou couldst judge it to be an oppression, and a slavery? but these sinful imaginations are matter of delight and titillation to thee, thou art pleased and ravished (as it were) with them all the day long.